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Citrus Heights Police to add code enforcement, animal control, drones, to combat illegal fireworks

By Sara Beth Williams–
With Independence Day just around the corner, the Citrus Heights Police Department plans to ramp up its efforts to ensure a safer holiday for all residents.

Citrus Heights Police Commander Michael Wells recently presented the department’s comprehensive fireworks enforcement strategy for 2025 to the Citrus Heights City Council Wednesday night, highlighting both its educational outreach and aggressive enforcement plans aimed at curbing the use of illegal fireworks.

“Protecting our community and providing a safe environment is always our number one goal,” said Wells, emphasizing that July 3 and 4 are historically the most demanding days for the city’s dispatch call center.

In 2023, fireworks-related calls made up 44 percent of all calls on July 4, amounting to 175 calls. In 2024, the number slightly increased to 178 calls, accounting for 48 percent of the day’s total call volume.

To address the ongoing concern, the City Council previously approved amendments that strengthened the city’s illegal fireworks ordinance, raising the fine for a first violation from $750 to $1,000 and the fine for a second violation from $1,000 to $2,500. The ordinance now also allows citations to be issued per individual illegal device. In tandem, the city’s social host ordinance was updated to include properties under a host’s “apparent control,” expanding the scope of accountability and tightening enforcement capabilities.

A key component of this year’s illegal fireworks enforcement plan is proactive community outreach, Wells said. Approximately 100 warning letters were mailed out to residents with a history of discharging illegal fireworks. Additionally, the police department rolled out a “Keep it Safe, Keep it Legal” campaign across social media platforms to educate the public on the dangers and penalties associated with illegal fireworks.

For those witnessing violations, the police department is encouraging residents to use the “SeeClickFix” app, which allows anonymous reporting or the option to submit a witness attestation to violations, allowing the police department to then issue citations.

In an effort to free up emergency lines and enhance follow-up efforts, Wells said the department plans to have code enforcement officers work alongside dispatchers. This allows dispatch to prioritize emergency calls while enabling code enforcement staff to return calls and gather critical details from fireworks complaints in order to provide real-time information to officers in the field.

The department also plans to increase its physical presence throughout neighborhoods on July 3 and 4. Additionally, unmanned aerial drones will also be deployed to proactively identify the source of illegal fireworks.

“The drones should be able to pinpoint the location responsible for the illegal fireworks, and that residence will receive a social host ordinance citation,” Wells said.

Animal control officers will also be on duty to respond to any increase in animal distress calls that often occur as a result of illegal fireworks.

Instead of using illegal fireworks, the police department is encouraging residents to attend public, professionally run fireworks shows, which are “safer, legal, and designed with the community in mind,” said Wells.

Residents are invited to enjoy the city’s upcoming Stars and Stripes celebration event on Saturday, June 28, which will feature a professional fireworks display and family-friendly activities, the department said.

“Celebrations should bring people together—not end in tragedy,” Wells added. “If you see something dangerous, please say something.”